Bayer Leverkusen’s Kai Havertz awarded gold Fritz Walter Medal

21 weeks ago

Bayer Leverkusen star Kai Havertz and Cologne’s Noah Katterbach have both been awarded with the prestigious gold Fritz Walter Medal for young German players. The German Football Association (DFB) honoured the youngsters at U-19 and U-17 level respectively.

Cologne defender Noah Katterback was honoured at U-17 level with the gold medal, ahead of Oliver Batista Meier of Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund’s Luca Unbehaun. The 17-year-old Cologne left-back has already made 12 appearances for the German U-17 team and may well make his first-team debut during the 2018/19 season with the Billy Goats in Bundesliga 2.

Named in honour of West Germany’s 1954 World Cup-winning captain, the Fritz Walter Medal is seen as the highest accolade for players in German youth football (U19 and U17, also previously U18) and has been awarded to some star names in the past.